The Tactics of Insurance Claim Adjusters

Blog Post by Barry G. Doyle

Insurance companies take care in hiring their claims adjusters to make sure they are friendly, sympathetic, and persuasive. Adjusters undergo weeks of training to learn the nuances of their job, how to conduct themselves on the phone, and most importantly the right ways to lead conversations.When speaking with an adjuster, their basic job is to interview you for the facts about your truck accident. While their questions may seem simple and innocent, they are often worded to get you to admit more information than you should. For example, the basic question may be “who hit whom” but they may ask it as, “did you make a left turn without properly stopping and were struck by the other car?”If you answered yes to this question, you may think you’re only agreeing that the other car hit you, but you also just agreed that you made an improper left turn. You need to be mindful of the wording used in questions you are asked, and either only agree to completely factual statements or ask for a rephrasing of the question. You can also clarify in your answer, but be careful that you don’t say too much in your response.Insurance companies rely on their claims adjusters to build a happy working relationship with the claimant. This allows them to earn your trust and put you in a lax mindset so you’ll be more apt to reveal damaging information about your claim.Remember that insurance companies are looking out for their best interests first, and our article on dealing with insurance companies following a truck accident will help you understand some of their strategies. If you’re ever unsure about working with an insurance company or talking with a claims adjuster, you don’t have to worry alone. An experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you compile your case and take it to court. Contact us today for a free case evaluation: 312-263-1080.